Operating mechanism for exit-doors



W. B. B'OLLES.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR EXIT DOORS- APPLICATION FILED SEPT.30| 1918. I 1.933397%n 5 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

2 F3 \Efio O i 3 ha I 3 1 1 W. B. BOLLES.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR EXIT DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 30. 1918.

1,383,97%a Patented July 5, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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NILLIAJH B. BOLLES, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR EXIT-BOOBS.

Application filed September 30, 1918.

To all w ham it may concern Be it known that I, lVILLIAM B. BoLLns, a c tizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Operating lilechanism for Exit Doors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose and object of this invention is to provide a device for use upon doors, more particularly those doors which form exit closures 01 buildings for public meeting places, theaters, etc, which device is so designed and arranged that the lock operating mechanism for such doors as mentioned, may be easily operated from the insid of the door by contact of any portion of the body of a person with the device of this invention, thus making unnecessary the turning of a knob, or the turning of a key. This is particularly important where in case of a necessary hasty exit, and a crowd surges against the door, the lock operating mechanism will be easily operated to permit the release of the door that it may swing outward and per mit exit from the door.

The device of this invention is so con structed that the lock for the door may be operated as usual, that is to say, it may be opened by a pass-key, or by the turning oi a knob, and the device of this invention is auxiliary and ancillary to the lock, and in no way interferes with its usual operation.

Generally speaking, the invention may be said to comprise the elements and combinations thereof set forth in the accompanying claims.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part o1 this specification, in which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing a door with a lock mortised therein, and the device oi my invention in cooperative position; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with the cover of the casing removed; and Fig. 4 shows in elevation a lock casing and those portions of the lock mechanism which cooperate with the device forming the present invention; Fig. 5 is a rear elevation with the cover removed showing a lock having additional features; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the showing in Fig. 5 with portions in section; Fig. 7 is a transverse sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 256,235.

tion through the central part of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a casing which is provided with side walls and end walls. The lower end wall has an open ing through which a slidable member 3, later to be referred to, may pass.

The casing at its corner portions is provided with openings such as indicated at 4, which are adapted to receive screws for the purpose of fastening the casing to the door.

The casing is provided with a cover, indicated at 2 in Fig' 1, which cover fits the back of the casing and is held in place by any suitable means. Within the casing there is a wall indicated at 5.- This wall forms part of, and projects from a body portion 6, which is provided with a central opening 7. The body portion 6 is preferably, although not necessarily, formed integral with the casing l. Adjacent the opening in the lower wall of the casing there is a guiding wall 8, which also is formed preterably although not necessarily integral with the casing l.

The member 3 cooperates with the walls 8 and 5, and as the member 3 is caused to move or reciprocate, the movement of the member 3, is in part guided by the walls 5 and S. r

The end of the member 3 is provided with an extension 3' which enters the opening 7 in the part 6, and the projection 3 cooperates with a spring 9 which is within the opening 7, and as the member 3 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, the spring 9 is compressed and tends to return the member 3 to its original position from which it has been moved.

The walls 5, 5 and 8 together with the extension 3 of the member 3, all assist in guiding the member 3 to move in a straight line, which is quite essential and necessary in order that there shall be no binding of the projection 3' within the opening 7 Upon the outside of the casing 1, there is pivoted a lever 10, this lever being pivoted at 11, as indicated in Fig. 1. The lever is provided with a rear extending portion indicated at 10 This portion is in part cylindrical and is adapted to extend in the opening 3 formed in the member 3, the opening 3 being of just the right size to receive the member 10. ,The fact that the member 10. has arounding surface thereby provides what may be termed a rolling contact with the bottom and top surface of the slot 3 as the lever 10 is moved.

To the member 3 there is secured a pin or projection 12 which extends outwardly from the casing through a slot 2 formed in the door below the lock, and the opening 1311s of suflicient extent so'tha-t the pin 12 may have the necessary movement imparted to it when the lever 10 is operated. The lock which is indicated in Fig. 1 comprises the usual casing 15 andthe locking bolt 16. This locking bolt may be operated by a key, or by a handle, in any well known manner and no attempt will be made to describe the mechanism of the lock, except that portion of the mechanism which cooperates with the device of the present invention. c

As will'be readily understood, the precise construction of the lock has no bearing upon the present invention so long as it has a part which may be contacted and operated by the pin or projection 12.

'Thereis a hooked member 17 which engages wlth a portion of the latch 16 by which it may be withdrawn, and this mem-f ber 17 cooperates with a pivoted lever 18,

which lever 18 in turn cooperates with a sliding member 19. The sliding member 19 extends ad acent an opening 20 in the lock casing, and when the device of the present invention is mounted uponthe door, the

. member 12 is placed in position to cocperate. with the sliding member 19, so that as the member 19 is raised it will cause operation of the lever 18, which in turn will move the lever 17 and so cause the withdrawal of the latch or looking bolt 16.

As before explained, the pin 12 extends, when in proper position, beneath the member 19 of thelock.

3 downwardly and the lever 10 outwardly from the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 3 'i'espectively, and when the lever. 10 is depressed it moves the member 3 against the actionof spring 7, which in turn causes the member 12 to be moved against the part 19 of the lock thereby withdrawing the latch 16.

The lever 10 is, asshown more particularly in Fig. 2, a broad fiat lever which is easily grasped or conducted by the hand or arm of a person seeking exit, and while the lever lOmayassume the particular construction'shown in the drawings, 1 do not intend to limit the invention to the use ,ofthis type of lever, as it will be obviousthat other posed are its simplicity, and the fact that it may bemanufactured at low cost, and

in addition, the fact that the parts are not apt to get out of order and will not bind or become disorganized in the operation of the device. V

In Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, 1 have shown a construction of lock operating device in which the mechanism is so constructed that the pin or projection which operates the lock may be caused to move whether the op erating lever'in front is-depressed or raised. This is by some considered a desirable feature inasmuch as when necessity requires the use of the device for hasty exit, as when egress from the building is sought because or" fire, the persons operating the mechanism may in haste and confusion endeavor to raise the operating lever rather than to depress it. It is, of course, amatter of prime necessity that the operating mechand avoid congestion as much as possible? Referring 'to Figs. 5 to 7, the casing is represented at l and the back plate for the casing at 2*. l

N ithin the casing is a sliding member indicated at 3. provided with a projecting portionB which enters an opening 7 formed in the part 6 which in the present instance is integral not it is integral, is immaterial; V

Vithin the opening 7 there is a spring 9 which engages with the portion 3 of the member 8 and normally projectsthe memto substantially the position shown in Fig. 5. e V j y The under side of the'member 3" is notched out and provided with a recess such as in- '-dicated at 3 The lower end of the member 1 3 is provided with a recess 3 which ac'commodates an operating part, as later described, and this recess opens into a larger recess 3 which also accommodates an operat- 1 ing part as later explained.

Secured-to the member 3 is an extension or pin-12 which isadapted to cooperate withthe movable member 19 forming-apart of the locking mechanism as shown, in Fig.4.

The member 8 is guided in its reciprocaj :tion by means or" walls 5 and 5 ,;wh1ch latter wall in the present instance forms an extension of the part 6 also by a Wall 8", formed, in the present: instance, asiapart This sliding member is.

0'5 with the casing itself, although whether or of the casing, and may further be guided by means of a wall 8 which also forms a stop for the member 3% These walls which have just been described, together with the extension 2%, guide the member 3 in its reciprocation, so that it moves in a straight line.

From the front wall of the casing there extends a stud 14, and upon this stud there is pivoted substantially the central por tion thereof, a lever This lever at its outer end is provided with projections 15 and 15 The projection 15= receives a link 16 which its opposite end cooperates with nsion 17 which is formed upon the part 2 of the member 3. This member 3 serves not only the purpose of supporting the pin 17, but also serves to reinforce the member 3 djacent the portions of the member 8 which are cut away to form the recesses 8 and 3 Cooperating with the extension 15 is a link 18. This link at its lower end has an inwardly ex ending arm 18, which arm extends within the opening 3 in the member 8 The link 18 adjacent the lower end thereof is provided with a roller 19 which engages with a wall of the casing 1, thus serving to guide the link 18 when it is moved, as later described.

The operating lever 1O which is pivoted to the casing and extends in front thereof, is provided with a rear extending portion 10: This member 10 is cylindrical in shape and is of such size as to substantially occupy the opening 8 in the sliding memher 3, and furthermore, the extension 18 or the link 18 lies just beneath the part 10 which has just been described.

The operation of the device is as follows: Normally the spring 7 forces the member 8 to its downward position so that the lever 10" is in substantially the position shown in full lines in 6.

It the lever 10 be depressed, the part 10 is elevated. This part in turn operating upon the member causes the same to rise against the action of the spring and as the member 3 is caused to rise, the projection 12 is raised and cooperates with the part 19 of the lock, thereby causing withdrawal of the latch 16.

Under the conditions of operation as just described, as the member 3 rises, the link 16 is caused to rise, which in turn causes the lever 15 to be tilted about its pivot, which in turn causes the link 18 to descend, and with it the projection 18. 'lhe projection 18 merely descends in the opening 3 its movement accomplishing no purpose. At the same time, the movement does not in any way interfere with the operation of the parts as previously describe:

if the lever be raised, it will cause the part 10 to engage with the projection 18 and so cause the projection 18 to be depressed. This in turn causes downward movement of the link 18, which in turn causes the lever to be tilted about its pivot and raises the link 16. This link 16 being secured to the projection 17, which is in eil ect carried by the member 3, causes the member 3- to rise against the action of the spring 7 and as the member 3 is caused to rise, the projection 12 also is raised into contact with the part 19 of the lock. The depth of the groove 3 into which the projection 18 extends, is sullicient to permit the required movement of the various parts described in order to accomplish the desired result.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. in a device of the character described, a casing, a member within the casing provided with a recessed opening, a Spring in said opening, wall members associated with the casing, a sliding member cooperating with said wall members, said sliding member having a projecting portion which extends into said opening and cooperates with the spring therein, a lever pivoted upon the casing and havingroperative connection with the sliding member, a lock operating member connected with the slid'.1g member.

2. In combination with a bolt therefor, of a casing carried upon the door, member within said casing provided with an opening, a spring within said open ing, a sliding member within the casing having an extension which cooperates with the opening in the said member and with the spring therein, guide walls formed in the casing whereby the sliding member is guided to move in a linear direction as it is moved, a lever pivoted upon the casing and havopcrat ve connection with the sliding member, the said spring being compressed as the lever is moved, and the said spring serving to return the parts to initial position when the lever is released, and means connecting the said sliding member with the locking bolt.

in combination with a door and locking bolt therefor, a casing carried upon the door, a member within said casing provided with an opening, a spring within said opening, a sliding member within the casing, said sliding member having an extension which coiiperates with the opening in the aforesaid member and with the spring therein, guiding walls within the casing which cooperate with the sliding member serving to guide the sliding member in linear direction when the sliding member is moved, a lever pivoted upon said casing and having a portion which cooperates with the sliding member to move the same when the lever is moved, and means connecting the said sliding member with the locking bolt, said means including a pin carried by the sliding door and locking 9 member andextending-from the easing into a suitable opening formed, in the door.

4:.Incomb1nationwith a door and looking bolt therefor, a slidingmember carried by the door and inountedto slide parallel with the door, means for operatively connecting said member and locking bolt, said sliding member being provided with an opening and a recess adjacent the opening, said sliding member also having a notched out part, a lever pivoted at its central portion and extending through the notched out part'of the slidable member, a link cooperating with one end of said pivoted member, said link being attached to the said sliding member, a second link coeperating with the other end of the pivoted lever, said second link being provided withan extension which cooperates withthe said recess in'the slidingmember, an operating lever 'pivotally mounted upon the door, said operating lever being provided with a part which occupies the opening in the said sliding member and in position to cooperate with the extension upon the said second link.

' 5. In a device of the'character' described,

the combination with a casing, a sliding member within said casing, means within the casing for guiding the sliding member, said sliding member being provided with an opening-and with a recess adjacent the said opening, a leverpivoted adjacent its central portion within the casing, a linkconnectingone end of said lever with the sliding member, a second link at one end connected'with thepivoted member, said link adjacent its opposite end being provided with an extension which lies within the recess the slid- 'ing member, sai'dlink also 'being provided withmeans which engages a wall of the easing to guide the said second link in ts move ment, an operating lever pivoted upon the casing and having a part which extends or without the cas ng, said operatinglever hav ing a part which cooperates with the opening in the sliding member, and lies adjacent the said extension upon the second link.

6. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a casing, a" sliding member within said casing, means Within the casing for guiding the slidingmember,

said sliding memberbeing provided with an opening and with a recess adjacent the said opening, a lever pivoted adjacent its central portion within the casing, a link con- Inectingone end of said lever with the sliding member, a second link at one end connected with the pivoted member," said link adjacent its opposite end being provided with an extension which lies within the recess in the sliding member, said link also being provided with means which engages. a wall 01- the casing to'guide the said se'c-' 0nd link in its movement, an operating lever pivoted upon the casing and having a part which extends WltllOlll} the casing, said operating lever having a part which cooperates with the opening in the sliding member, and

lies adjacent the said extension ipon the second link, and resilient means for returntherein, said sliding member being provided with an opening and also a recess adjacent the opening, a lever pivoted atits, central portion within the casing, a linkconnecting one end of said lever with the said sliding member, asecond link connected with the opposite end of said pivoted lever, means for guiding said second link as it moves, a

member extending within the recess formed inrthe sliding member, said member being connected with the second mentioned link,

an operating lever pivoted upon the casing,

having a part which extends onthe outside of the casing, said operating lever having a part which cooperateswith the opening in the sliding member and is positioned adjacent the member extending within the recess of the sliding member for the purpose de scribed. r

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature. 7 I

' WILLIAM B. BOLLES. 

